In an observational study, elevated resting heart rate was significantly associated with high blood pressure — independent of obesity — in male children and adolescents.
Elevated resting heart rate is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease in healthy adults, but what is the association in children? Researchers in Brazil conducted a cross-sectional study of 358 healthy male children and adolescents (age range, 8–18 years; 65% white) who were not taking any medications. Resting heart rate (2 measurements after 5 minutes of rest in a sitting position), blood pressure (BP; 2 electronic measurements), and body fat (dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry % body fat) were measured using a strict protocol. Elevated BP was defined as the 95th percentile of the 2004 National High Blood Pressure Education Program cutoffs, adjusted for age and height.
Among participants with resting heart rates ≥86 beats/minute…